Children's book explores Logan's past and present
A new book has been launched to encourage local youngsters to learn about City of Logan’s past and present by focussing on 13 historical locations to interest children.
The historical picture book Logan Then & Now features the characters of Sweetie the sugar glider, and children Martha and Jacob, exploring Logan’s First Nations and colonial history, along with the geography, parklands, rivers and attractions.
Award-winning Logan author Karen Tyrrell launched her new children’s book in October, with illustrator Megan Forward, for children aged 4 to 10 as part of the Quota Beenleigh literacy project.
‘I wrote this book to teach children about Logan’s history and their future,’ Karen says.
‘It’s full of wonder and optimism, and provides an inspiring trail guide for children and families to enjoy the City of Logan.
‘The wonderful ladies of the Beenleigh Quota Club plan to distribute it free to local Year 2 students at Logan schools.’
Karen and her husband Steve visited the chosen sites and interviewed people, took photos, and rediscovered what was there in the past and how children can enjoy that same location now.
Sites featured in the pages include Kingston Butter Factory Cultural District and the Devon Pixies café, Eagleby Wetlands, Logan Village Green, Duck Park and Logan Parklands.
Above: From left, illustrator Megan Forward and author Karen Tyrrell at the book launch for ‘Logan Then & Now’.
‘We interviewed the descendants of Alexander Clark Park, we explored St Georges Church and the old Beenleigh Railway, the curator of Mayes Cottage shared life in the 1800s, and Yugambeh Museum shared the lyrics of Advance Australia Fair in Yugambeh,’ Karen says.
‘With Sweetie the sugar glider as a character, I wrote the ‘Then’ left page with intriguing historical facts and on the ‘Now’ right page, Martha and Jacob explore Logan’s attractions and engaged in fun activities.’
Karen also sourced historical photos from Logan City Council Libraries and discovered some interesting facts when researching for the book, such as Logan Village history from 1862, when timber workers built the settlement there to float timber down the Logan River to Brisbane.
‘Also, Eagleby Wetlands contains evidence of the Yugambeh people’s past activity with stone tools on the ground and scarred trees,’ she says.
‘In 1887, the Mayes family built Mayes Cottage and planted fruit trees, pineapples and grapes, and kept bees for honey,’ she adds.
The book is Karen’s 17th, following others about the Logan area including Follow The Sugar Trail and Ready Set Discover Logan.
Karen is also an early childhood teacher, keynote speaker and workshop presenter, and is an appointed ambassador for Children’s Rights QLD to educate the community and empower children on their rights to be happy, healthy and safe.
In addition to Quota Beenleigh, local collaborators on the book include Beenleigh State School, Logan heritage specialist Dr Hilda Maclean, the Yugambeh Youth Choir, Yugambeh Museum and Aunty Robyn Williams, who is a descendant of Bilin Bilin, King of Logan.
For more information visit www.karentyrrell.com
Photo at top: From left, Koby and Madeleine reading the new book about Logan’s past and present, titled Logan Then & Now.
